Catalog search:



Catalog home • Help • My account • Interlibrary Loan
Get Involved: Volunteer Opportunities


If you would like more information about volunteering, please contact Pat McCarthy, Coordinator of Volunteers, at (412)366-8100 x104 or mccarthyp@einetwork.net.

If you would like to apply for a volunteer position, please print a volunteer application and return it to:
Northland Public Library
Attn: Pat McCarthy
300 Cumberland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Fax: (412)366-2064

Adult Volunteer Opportunities

  • Mysteries Book Club Leader – Are you a lover of mysteries?  This may be the perfect spot for you.  The leader must be an avid mysteries reader and enjoys talking to people and listening to new ideas.  Time commitment is two to three hours monthly plus your personal reading time.

  • Adopt-A-Row
    This is a way to show pride in Northland. Help us keep the collection neat and in the correct location. Duties include: check materials to assure each is in the proper location and in correct alphabetical/Dewey Decimal order. Move materials to the front of shelves and shift books as necessary. Clean shelves as necessary. Training is provided. Hours are flexible.
  • Baby Boomers - We Need You!
    If you are a baby boomer (born between years 1946 thru 1964) and enjoy lively conversation with other people, we have the perfect volunteer opportunity.
    • Boomer Book Discussion Leader
      Responsible for coordinating and conducting a monthly book discussion with a focus on books relating to the baby boomer generation. A person who has a wide reading interest and enjoys reading is preferable. Time commitment – 3-4 hours monthly for an evening book discussion.
  • Book Delivery Assistant
    Do you like to drive?  Do you enjoy helping the elderly?  This is the perfect volunteer opportunity for you.  The Book Delivery Assistant is responsible for pickup and delivery of a carton of books to Perrytown Place each month.  These books are for the PALS/ACLA Book Club at senior citizens living facilities.  You will also pack, unpack and arrange new delivery on the book shelves at Stonebrook Village Retirement Community as a part of the Northland Library Mini-Library collections on a quarterly basis.  Both of these facilities are located in the North Hills.
  • Book Discarder
    Do you enjoy working with books?  This is the spot for you.  As a sporadic volunteer, you will remove the security tags, cross off barcodes, etc. for items that are being discarded from the collection and move materials to the sorting and packing area.  Hours are 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday – Friday and some Saturdays.
  • Book Toter
    If you want to bring some reading enjoyment to an elderly person, this is the job for you. Responsibilities include: selecting materials for the residents of a nursing home center, check items out at the library and transport directly to the residents on a three-week cycle. At the end of three weeks, a new supply of materials are taken to the residents and older items returned.
  • Catalog Records Preparation Assistant
    Help Technical Services Department staff to presort and separate items requiring different handling by the catalogers depending whether the items are new or additional copies with the county-wide system. Computer and problem-solving aptitude and attention to details are needed. Training will be provided on catalog searching. Time commitment is 2-3 hours on a weekly basis. Availability on Wednesdays, Fridays or Saturdays.
  • Data Entry Helper
    Perform various data entry computer assignments. Experience in Microsoft Word, Access and Excel is preferred. Accuracy and attention to detail are requirements for this position. Hours are flexible.
  • Dial-a-Story Reader
    A Dial-a-Story volunteer must have excellent reading-aloud skills. The stories are read directly into the phone and recorded for parents and children to dial in and listen to the story. Most stories last 3-6 minutes for this program. If you enjoy reading and would like to read to children, this is an ideal opportunity.
  • Media Cases Helper
    Sporadic volunteers (individual or small group) to assist in miscellaneous processing duties related to recycling/reuse of our CD/DVD plastic cases which requires use of cleaning materials supplied by the library. Help Northland to make a difference by saving money and recycling materials.  Hours are 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday and some Saturdays.
  • Mini-Library Public Speaker
    Importance of Position: Bring the mission and vision of Northland Public Library to residents of Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Centers and Retirement Communities within the North Hills area to acquaint residents and staff with the value of the mini-library collections. Qualifications: Commitment to Northland Public Library’s vision and mission; Successful public speaking experience and willingness to speak and communicate with the aging population. Duties: Become acquainted with the Mini-Library Collection program and visit each participating facility on a monthly basis to present a refresher, upbeat talk on the program, answer questions, etc. Review status of each collection and solve problems if needed.
  • Online Book Sale Assistant
    Search Book Prospector website for donated and discarded books for resale possibility. Must be familiar with computers and the Internet. Time commitment is 2-3 hours on Friday afternoons on a weekly basis.
  • Periodical Assistant
    Organize and shelve magazines and newspapers by title and date of publication. If you like organization, this is the perfect assignment. The shifts are by specific days on an ongoing basis.
  • Public Relations Assistant
    Develop and implement a public relations campaign to increase public awareness and promote Northland Library's participation in the United Way Donor Option program. If you are creative and project oriented, this is a wonderful opportunity to help Northland Library expand outreach services to the elderly in our community. Time commitment: Campaign promotion begins the end of August for approximately 6-8 months. Goal: To educate the general public and library patrons of the elderly outreach services provided by the library and encourage support of the United Way Donor Option program.
  • Read to Kids
    Northland Library and HEARTH (a nonprofit in Ross Township which houses homeless women with children) are sponsoring Read to Kids on Thursday evenings at HEARTH facility on Perry Highway. Volunteers will share the joy of reading with young children. You will not only enrich their language and literacy skills, you will have an opportunity to bond and teach them a variety of other cognitive and social skills. Most importantly, you can inspire them to become lifelong learners. You must love to read and enjoy working with children.
  • Read to the Blind
    Spend a couple of hours each week reading stories to residents in local nursing homes who are visually impaired. A person is needed who truly enjoys reading and has a pleasant speaking voice. Spend some time helping another person experience the joys of hearing a story.
  • Resource Directory Assistant
    Update various resource directories through mail and phone contact. This is an ideal assignment for individuals who enjoy research and have good organizational skills. Computer skills and attention to detail are necessary. Hours are flexible.
  • Shelf Reader
    You can help keep the library's collection neat and orderly by becoming a Shelf Reader. You are assigned to a specific section of the library's materials. Responsibilities include looking at every item to make sure the materials are in the correct order. A regular commitment of 1-2 hours weekly is required. Training will be provided.
  • Tape Cassette Recording Assistant
    If you have a clear and pleasant speaking voice with good pronunciation of words and like to help the visually impaired, this is an opportunity to give something back to your community. Responsibilities include a varied time commitment and flexibility in scheduling. This assignment involves recording printed materials on tape cassettes for the visually impaired.
  • Technical Assistant
    If you have an appreciation of books and their value, this is a way you can help Northland Library extend the shelf life of our materials. You will receive training on how to properly cover a book with a book jacket. It is similar to wrapping a package with attention to detail. Time commitment is 2-4 hours on a weekly basis. Availability Tuesday or Thursday afternoons and Saturdays (morning or afternoon).
  • Used Bookstore Clerk
    Volunteers are needed to staff the store; count monies in cash register at beginning and end of shift; operate cash register for sales and receipts; greet and assist customers; straighten store during each shift. A two-hour or more weekly schedule is required. (Daytime, evening and weekend shifts will be available).

Youth Volunteer Opportunities
  • Adopt-A-Row
    This is a way to show pride in Northland. Help us keep the collection neat and in the correct location. Duties include: check materials to assure each is in the proper location and in correct alphabetical/Dewey Decimal order. Move materials to the front of shelves and shift books as necessary. Clean shelves as necessary. Training is provided. There is flexibility in scheduling.
  • Family Volunteering
    If you are under 14 years of age, you can still help the library! You and family members can volunteer together for many different projects, including our used book sale, special events, grounds clean-up, and adopt-a-shelf.
  • Grounds Maintenance
    Rake leaves, pull weeds, etc. If you are an outdoors person, we can use your help.
  • Tape Cassette Recording Assistant
    If you have a clear and pleasant speaking voice with good pronunciation of words and like to help the visually impaired, this is an opportunity to give something back to your community. Responsibilities include a varied time commitment and flexibility in scheduling. This assignment involves recording printed materials on tape cassettes for the visually impaired.
  • Technical Services Assistant, Shelf Reader, Used Bookstore Clerk, Data Entry Helper and Periodical Assistant
    Please see descriptions listed under Adult Opportunities for more information.
  • Wii Assistants
    Volunteers are needed to assist and provide instruction on using the Wii to children, ages 8-12 during our Wii're Having Fun now with a focus on nutrition, physical fitness and healthy living on Thursdays, 4:00-6:00pm and Fridays, 7:00-9:00pm through February 13th. The next series, Wii're Having Fun Now for Girls will be on Fridays, 7:00-8:00pm from April 3 through May 22.